New era of game devices arrives / Sony and Nintendo meet the challenge of Microsoft's Xbox

Ryan Kim, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published
4:00 am PST, Monday, November 13, 2006

** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND, NOV. 11-12 ** FILE **A model shows Nintendo Co.'s new family video-game console Wii and it's controller during a news conference in Tokyo in this June 7, 2006, file photo. After years of hype and speculation, the latest round of video game console wars is finally about to begin. Unlike past battles waged since the 1970s, consumers this time around will have some truly distinct options among three contenders, as each device is tuned to different tastes and budgets. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, file) A JUNE 7, 2006 FILE PHOTO less

** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND, NOV. 11-12 ** FILE **A model shows Nintendo Co.'s new family video-game console Wii and it's controller during a news conference in Tokyo in this June 7, 2006, file photo. After years of ... more

Photo: SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI

Photo: SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI

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** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND, NOV. 11-12 ** FILE **A model shows Nintendo Co.'s new family video-game console Wii and it's controller during a news conference in Tokyo in this June 7, 2006, file photo. After years of hype and speculation, the latest round of video game console wars is finally about to begin. Unlike past battles waged since the 1970s, consumers this time around will have some truly distinct options among three contenders, as each device is tuned to different tastes and budgets. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, file) A JUNE 7, 2006 FILE PHOTO less

** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND, NOV. 11-12 ** FILE **A model shows Nintendo Co.'s new family video-game console Wii and it's controller during a news conference in Tokyo in this June 7, 2006, file photo. After years of ... more

Photo: SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI

New era of game devices arrives / Sony and Nintendo meet the challenge of Microsoft's Xbox

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The battle for the hearts and minds of video gamers begins in earnest this week with the release of the next generation of game consoles from Sony and Nintendo.

A year after the release of the Xbox 360 by Microsoft, Sony will unleash the PlayStation 3 on Friday and Nintendo will roll out its Wii on Sunday. The much anticipated premieres will complete the transition to a new era of video gaming and give players the chance to enjoy the latest advances in gaming hardware and software.

"The next generation hasn't had multiple consoles. Now this week, it finally does," said Van Baker, an analyst with Gartner Research. "The game, in some sense, begins now."

The new hardware should provide an adrenaline boost to the $25 billion video-game industry, especially software developers who have experienced a slowdown in sales in anticipation of the next-generation consoles.

For companies like Redwood City's Electronic Arts, the world's largest interactive softwaremaker, the release of the Wii and PlayStation 3 is a welcome moment, allowing the company to finally begin fully earning a return from its investment in next-generation titles.

"It's like a whole new lease on life," said Nick Earl, EA's vice president and studio general manager. "The work you've been doing behind the scenes on these systems, you actually get to put it out there in people's hands."

During the last console cycle, which began in 2000, the PlayStation 2 emerged the clear winner, selling 111 million units worldwide. That easily bested the original Xbox, which sold 24.6 million consoles, and the Nintendo GameCube, which sold 21.2 million.

This time around, analysts predict a much tighter race, with Nintendo and Microsoft both gaining on Sony. Microsoft, having released the Xbox 360 a year earlier, has sold 6 million units and expects to sell 10 million by the end of this year.

Different immersions

More than in the past cycle, this generation's competitors are taking increasingly divergent strategies that reflect their unique takes on the concept of immersion -- the idea of transporting gamers to another realm. Nintendo is showcasing an unconventional game controller, while Sony relies on a supercomputing processor to create a realistic experience. Meanwhile, Microsoft is betting that its improved online play will entice more players.

Virtual sword slashing

Nintendo's Wii has a new game controller that senses motion and allows gamers to play with exaggerated full-body movements. The Wii Remote enables players to slash a sword, swing a golf club or throw a dart, all by moving their controller.

Nintendo officials say they believe this kind of interaction will create a new level of engagement to draw hardcore games and hopefully a wider audience.

"You can really immerse yourself in games with the Wii Remote," said Anka Dolecki, public relations director at Nintendo of America. "We built it to interact in a way you've never done before. You're not playing the game, you're actually feeling the game."

The Wii, which is priced at $250, will have 30 titles at launch, including The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Powerful play

While Nintendo touts the interactive qualities of its controller, Sony is playing up the computing power of the PlayStation 3, which is 40 times more powerful than its predecessor. The PS3's processor enables game developers to create extremely vivid graphics, increasingly realistic movements, artificial intelligence for characters and advanced sound effects.

Jack Tretton, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer at Sony Computer Entertainment America, said harnessing that power produces a brilliant gaming effect that will engage players.

"Graphics alone doesn't tell the story," Tretton said. "It's all of those different experiences based on the technology that will lead to a more immersive experience that we think only the PS3 can bring you."

The PS3 also includes a beefed-up online network, a motion-sensing controller and a next-generation Blu-ray DVD player. The PS3, which will have more than 20 titles at release, will be priced at $499 and $599, depending on hard-drive capacity.

Microsoft also offers plenty of computing might of its own in a 3.2-GHz processor, a three-core chip, which should allow the Xbox 360 to keep pace with PlayStation for the near future. But the company is betting its online component, Xbox Live, will take gamers to the next level of play.

For the Xbox 360, immersion means playing in a community, against your friends or even strangers. Xbox Live, the best of the console online services, boasts 4 million members who compete against each other in games like Halo 2. When they're not playing each other, friends can chat online or compare achievement scores.

"For some people, the immersion experience is playing with a buddy online as a team," said Shane Kim, vice president for Microsoft Game Studios. "Today, you need to offer more amazing experiences and the ability to connect with other users."

Microsoft has a new feature on Xbox Live that allows users to download high-definition movies and television shows. The Xbox 360, which is priced at $299 and $399, depending on the size of the hard drive, will have 160 titles available by the end of this year including Gears of War, an exclusive title commissioned by Microsoft.

For some gamers, getting their hands on a next-gen console may be the biggest challenge. The PS3, which has been hampered by production delays, will have only 1 million available this year in North America. Analysts say almost all will be snapped up quickly through preorders and initial store sales. Consumers will have an easier time buying a Wii, which will have twice as many units on shelves in North America shelves this year.

The big winner may be the Xbox 360, which, unlike last holiday season, will have plenty of units available.

Even with expected shortages for the PS3, analysts predict a good year for the industry. Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities, recently said software sales should be up by at least 4 percent above last year because of the release of the Wii and PS3.

"It will be nice to have all the consoles out," said Robin Kaminsky, executive vice president of publishing at Activision. "We can get back to the business of making great games instead of concentrating on the hardware coming out."

Next generation of video gaming

Sony PlayStation 3

Release date: Friday

Price: $499 and $599

Will have 2 million units worldwide this year, about 1 million in North America

Nintendo Wii

Release date: Sunday

Price: $250

Will have 4 million units worldwide this year, about 2 million in North America

Xbox 360

Release date: Nov. 22, 2005

Price: $299 and $399

Has sold 6 million units worldwide so far, and is expected to sell 10 million by the end of this year